VisCom students, alumni, win big in news photography
With current and former students winning in multiple categories, the School of Visual Communication was well-represented in this year’s Ohio News Photographers Association awards.
June 2, 2026
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OHIO’s School of Visual Communication is a nationally-recognized training ground for photojournalists, commercial photographers and designers. The latest distinction came in the form of multiple awards from the Ohio News Photographers Association (ONPA). Current students Ben Pennington, HG Biggs, Claira Tokarz and Loriene Perera were all recognized for their work, while Jeremy Wadsworth, BSCV ’98, won in several categories, including first place in the Photographer of the Year category for his work with the Toledo Blade.
The annual awards recognize excellence across multiple categories.
Top image: A motorcyclist rides past Triple Nickel Diner during lunch service in Chesterhill, Ohio. Photo credit: Loriene Perera.
“Substance and persistence” shine through
Perera, an master of fine arts student, won the “Ohio Understanding Award” for her thesis project, which was titled “From Diner to Destination.” No stranger to ONPA awards, Perera also received the Chuck Scott Student Photographer of the Year in 2023 and 2024.
She said winning the award was especially meaningful because she came alone to Ohio to study photojournalism and documentary filmmaking, leaving her support system behind in Singapore.
“Being honored by ONPA affirmed that taking that risk and committing fully to the work was worthwhile,” Perera said. “Recognition like this reminds me that substance and persistence still matter.”
Pennington, a junior majoring in photojournalism and journalism Carr Van Anda, won multiple awards including first place in the Chuck Scott Student Photographer of the Year Award as well as the Feature Picture Story category for his project titled “Parahunter.” He created much of the work as an intern for the Boston Globe.
For one series, Pennington followed a high school football coach who was battling cancer. The two have stayed in touch, and Pennington says the coach’s health is improving.
“I think the coverage was able to make a positive impact on his life, his family, and his team,” Pennington said. “That’s really important to me.”
Pennington was also awarded the Larry Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship along with his fellow Bobcat Ayiana Andrella.
HG Biggs, a second-year master’s student in photojournalism, won second place in the Chuck Scott Student Photographer of the Year category. She said she was “honestly shocked” when she learned about the honor.
“I constantly remind myself that awards aren’t the ultimate goal of our work, but having my photography recognized by other photojournalists is always a validating experience,” Biggs said. “I’m honored that the ONPA judges saw something valuable in my work.”
Senior photojournalism student Claira Tokarz won third place in the Feature Picture Story category under the name Claira Kimble. She created her winning feature, titled “In My Room,” for the student-run publication Backdrop Magazine.
“As photo director I had the opportunity to photograph, design and publish a journalism piece for the first time, which was really exciting,” Tokarz said.
In this image from Ben Pennington's series titled "Parahunter," Fred Baker takes a look inside his butcher shop as his father brings his truck in carrying a customer’s deer in the bed. When Fred Baker fractured his spine in a motorcycle accident in 2009, his first thought was how he would continue his hobbies - skiing, motorcycling, fishing at his family’s lake house, and hunting. For the last few years, he’s participated in the statewide annual “parahunt” held by the Massachusetts Department of Fisheries and Wildlife which offers disabled hunters an opportunity to get back out into the woods.
Photo / credits
The winning students all thanked VisCom faculty for helping them succeed, and credited others beyond the school.
Perera enrolled in anthropology and video production courses.
“Those experiences reinforced that meaningful growth often comes from intellectual curiosity beyond departmental boundaries,” she said.
Pennington credited his fellow Bobcat Kevin Martin, MA ’09, the Globe’s deputy director of photography, as a mentor during his internship, along with faculty members.
“The VisCom program is very special for the way it prepares budding student journalists to launch their careers,” he said. “I can’t imagine where’d I’d be without the faculty and network I’ve learned from here.”
Biggs credits VisCom faculty members for much of her success, saying she owes them “a great deal of gratitude.”
“Their advice has been valuable not just in relation to photojournalism but also for life in general outside of class.”
Tokarz echoed the sentiment.
“VisCom has taught me so incredibly much throughout the years as a student here,” she said. “I owe thanks to the dedicated and passionate faculty and staff here.”
Bill Hutchison sits for a portrait in a booth at Mel’s Roadhouse on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, in Athens Township, Ohio. Bill, now in his late 70s, says he has lived in Athens almost his entire life. Photo credit: HG Biggs.
Gracie O’Neal adjusts her belt buckle Sunday, July 13, 2025, as she prepares for the goat show at the Hendricks County 4-H Fair in Danville, Indiana. Photo credit: HG Biggs.
Looking forward
As they graduate or await the next year of life at OHIO, all the winners look forward to what’s next.
Perera will start with a “short but well-earned break before returning to the grindstone.”
Pennington will spend the summer in Raleigh, N.C., as an intern for the News and Observer. He will also compete in the National Hearst Journalism Awards in San Francisco.
“Hopefully I’ll also get a minute to chill out,” he said. “I’m looking forward to all of it.”
Biggs said she’ll be working on her master’s professional project in Mississippi for a month before driving to California to take up a position as a visuals intern at The Sacramento Bee.
Tokarz will move to Pittsburgh to intern with the nonprofit paper Pittsburgh's Public Source.
“I am super exciting for what's to come and can't wait to be back in the fall to complete my undergraduate degree,” she said.
